Osama Bin Laden threatens to murder french hostages

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 February 2011 10:38 Tuesday, 25 January 2011 10:25

Osama bin Laden, that vile wretch that he is, has threatened to murder five French hostages being held by Al Qaeda unless France immediately withdraws its troops from Afghanistan. The demands were made in an audio tape that experts say appears to be authentic.

In the tape, bin Laden can be heard to say, "President Nicolas Sarkozy's refusal to remove his forces from Afghanistan is nothing but a green light for killing the French hostages. We repeat the same message to you: the release of your prisoners in the hands of our brothers is linked to the withdrawal of your soldiers from our country.”

Interestingly, the al-qaeda leader also made references the the debts of France, saying, "The size of your debts and the weakness of your budget will not allow you to open a new front." The belief that countries will pack up and go home just because of their debts is a common fallacy held by supporters of al-qaeda and the Taliban. Yet it hasn't happened yet and will not happen. If America was to be concerned about her debts, she would have left long ago. But when faced with choice of higher taxes or being bombed by al- qaeda, americans will choose the former. As will the French.

France has already rejected the demands of bin Laden, with the French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bernard Valero, telling reporters, “We are determined to pursue our action in favor of the Afghan people, with our allies.” France has about 3,750 troops stationed in Afghanistan at present.

The five french citizens were kidnapped in northern Niger in September by an al-qaeda affiliate. French authorities believe the hostages have been moved to Northeast Mali.